INXS, originally The Farriss Brothers, was an Australian band out of Sydney formed in 1977. The original members were bassist Garry Gary Beers, keyboardist Andrew Farriss, drummer Jon Farriss, guitarist Tim Farriss, guitarist and saxophonist Kirk Pengilly, and lead singer Michael Hutchence.
Known first for their new wave/pop style and later for a harder pub rock sound, they dominated the charts from the mid 80s to the early 90s. They have sold over 60 million copies worldwide and are the third-highest selling Australian musical act behind AC/DC and the Bee Gees. After Michael Hutchence’s suicide in 1997, INXS continued to perform with fill-ins like Jon Stevens, J.D. Fortune, and Ciaran Gribbin, but eventually the band called it quits in 2012. For over twenty years they left their mark on the music world, as well as on everyone here at Vinyl. That's why we've chosen to honor this awesome Aussie talent with 14 of our favorite INXS songs.
WEEK 1
SONG OF THE monDAY
Bitter Tears was written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence. It was released in 1991 from INXS’s album X (1990). The song was released in the UK to coincide with the band headlining the Summer XS concert at Wembley Stadium. In the US, the song peaked at No. 46 on Billboard Hot 100 but No. 4 on Billboard Mainstream Rock.
SONG OF THE tuesDAY
Never Tear Us Apart was released on Aug. 8, 1988 from INXS’s sixth studio album, Kick. With music by Andrew Farriss and lyrics by Michael Hutchence, It reached No. 14 on the Australian charts, but in the US, it peaked at No. 7 on Billboard Hot 100. After his death in 1997, Michael Hutchence’s coffin was carried out of St. Andrews Cathedral by the remaining members of the band and Hutchence’s brother while Never Tear Us Apart played in the background.
SONG OF THE wednesDAY
Suicide Blonde was released in August 1990 from INXS’s album, X. Rumored to be about Michael Hutchence’s then girlfriend Kylie Minogue after she had died her hair platinum blonde for a role in the 1989 movie The Delinquents. The song hit No. 1 in Canada and New Zealand, No. 2 in Australia, and No. 9 in the US. The single became poignant again in 1998 after Hutchence’s lover, Paula Yates, tried to commit suicide less than a year after his suicide in 1997.
SONG OF THE thursDAY
Elegantly Wasted was released in March 1997 as the lead single from INXS’s tenth album, Elegantly Wasted. With a B-side of Need You Tonight, the song didn’t chart on Billboard Hot 100 but reached No. 13 on Adult Top 40 and on Billboard Mainstream Rock. In Canada, it became the band’s fourth and final number one. It’s said that Elegantly Wasted was written after Michael Hutchence and Bono from U2 went out for a night on the town.
SONG OF THE friDAY
Need You Tonight was the first single released worldwide from INXS's 1987 album, Kick. To date, it's the band's only number 1 on Billboard Hot 100. It was one of the last songs written for the album but one of the most-popular. It's been covered by various artists, including Britney Spears and Bonnie Raitt. On the album, Need You Tonight is linked to the song, Mediate (or Meditate depending on which pressing you have). Mediate never appears without Need You Tonight, but Need You Tonight is often played as a stand-alone.
SONG OF THE saturDAY
Written by Andrew Farriss after the birth of his daughter, Beautiful Girl was released in February 1993 as the fifth international single from INXS’s album, Welcome to Wherever You Are (1992). Farriss said he was trying to write about the power of having something besides yourself to worry and think about. In the US, Beautiful Girl was only available in cassette. Bono of U2 plays piano and sings back-up vocals for the song.
SONG OF THE sunDAY
Devil Inside is from INXS's 1987 album, Kick. It was released in 1988 and is one of the band’s best-known songs. It peaked at No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100, blocked by Billy Ocean’s Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car and Whitney Houston’s Where Do Broken Hearts Go. The music video was shot in California and directed by Joel Schumacher, but Kirk Pengilly didn’t like it because he thought it was “too American.” London Grammar's cover of Devil Inside was used in a trailer for season four of HBO's Game of Thrones.
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WEEK 2
SONG OF THE monDAY
Baby Don’t Cry was written by Andrew Farriss about missing his daughter, Grace, while on tour. It was released in September 1992 as the second single from INXS’s album, Welcome to Wherever You Are. The song uses the 60-piece Australian Chamber Orchestra and hit No. 20 in the UK, No. 30 in Australia, but didn’t chart in the US.
SONG OF THE tuesDAY
Written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence, What You Need is the lead track from INXS’s 1985 album, Listen Like Thieves. It wasn’t originally on the album, but producer Chris Thomas said he didn’t think there was a “hit.” The band was given one day to deliver, so they came up with What You Need. Released as the first single In Australia and New Zealand and the second in the US, the song became the band’s first American Top Ten hit, peaking at No. 5 on Billboard Hot 100.
SONG OF THE wednesDAY
New Sensation was released from INXS’s album Kick (1987). About a party lifestyle, the song reached No. 3 on Billboard Hot 100. It was written by Michael Hutchence, with music by Andrew Farriss, and features a saxophone solo by Kirk Pengilly. The opening lyric, “Live, baby, live” was used as the title of the band’s 1991 album Live Baby Live. In 2018, McDonald’s used New Sensation to sell the Big Mac.
SONG OF THE thursDAY
Taste It was the fourth single released from INXS’s 1992 album, Welcome to Wherever You Are. It reached No. 5 in the US on Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock and No. 1 on Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100. There are mixed tales about the song’s inspiration. In an interview, Michael Hutchence said it was about the devil, the angel, and choice. According to the 2014 Australian TV miniseries INXS: Never Tear Us Apart, Taste It was partially inspired by an accident where Hutchence lost his sense of taste and smell.
SONG OF THE friDAY
Listen Like Thieves is the title song from INXS's fifth studio album, Listen Like Thieves (1985). Written by the entire band, it was released in 1986 and landing at No. 28 in Australia and No. 54 on Billboard Hot 100 and No. 12 on Billboard Album Rock Tracks. The band Was (Not Was) covered the song to promote their 1991 album, Hello Dad...I'm in Jail.
SONG OF THE saturDAY
Disappear was written by Michael Hutchence and Jon Farriss while they were living together in Hong Kong in 1989. Released in 1990 as the second single from the INXS 1990 album X, the song peaked at No. 8 on Billboard Hot 100 and became the band’s seventh and last Top 10 hit.
SONG OF THE sunDAY
Written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence, Original Sin was released as the first single from INXS’s fourth studio album, The Swing (1984). It became an international hit, landing on the chart in eight countries, reaching No. 58 in the US on Billboard Hot 100. Daryl Hall sings back-up vocals on the chorus. In 2010, INXS re-recorded Original Sin with Rob Thomas and DJ Yalediys for their tribute album, Original Sin. That version hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Songs.
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